Make the Bread, Buy the Butter, by Jennifer Reese (2011)

Genre: Nonfiction
Interest Level: AdultJennifer Reese lost her job, and did what we would all do in the same situation: started looking for ways to economize, and turned first to the kitchen. She decided to make more food from scratch to save money. But she quickly realized this might be a false economy at times. When is it better to make it? When should we buy it? These two simple questions launched her into a series of kitchen experiments that led to this cookbook/social commentary, combining to be entertaining read, a thoughtful discussion, and occasionally, delightfully, idiotic. Coffee yoghurt, hash browns, flourless chocolate cake? Make it. What about potato chips? Buy it. Vermouth? Make it (you bet!). Raise your own chickens for meat? (including cleaning and plucking, don’t forget!) Buy it. Sushi or banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches)? These are tough suckers to make – don’t ask. Just go buy it. Her comments on the difficulty level are helpful and hilarious: “Nothing to it.” “First graders can make these, though they probably won’t scrub the pot.” And my personal fave: “Major headache” – for making your own poptarts. Poptarts? Yup. She doesn’t stop at the obvious! And she doesn’t hesitate to share her opinion, slagging the industry that has given us the crouton. And when she recommends making over buying, Jennifer offers her own recipes, more than 120 of them according to the subtitle. I’m definitely looking to add this title to the bookshelf.
More reviews and discussion of this book: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11510733-make-the-bread-buy-the-butter

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About Michelle MalletteI'm just trying to keep track of the books I've read - what I liked and what isn't worth re-reading. My work as a librarian has included youth services so you'll find a wide range of interests from picture books and teen dystopia to adult sci-fi, road trip novels, and nonfiction. Comments and communication is always welcome.